A YOUNG mum is today going under the knife in a bid to halt her cervical cancer.

Laura Marie Atkinson, of Bensham, Gateshead, is preparing for surgery after medics found abnormal cells in her cervical smear test.

But the 24-year old was almost refused the vital test – because she was too young.

Now the mum-of-two has made a heart-breaking appeal to Gordon Brown to drop the minimum age for the tests and save more young lives.

Mum-of-two Laura was desperate to be tested after reading the heart-breaking stories of Jade Goody, 27, and local lass Claire Walker Everett, 23, who both lost their fights against cervical cancer in the last year.

A cancer screening programme, taking swabs from the cervix to check for abnormalities, is standard for women aged over 25.

But younger women are refused the tests – and at just 23, Laura had to fight to get the test, which may have saved her life.

“I had read about Jade Goody and Claire Walker Everett. They both died from cervical cancer, and they were both around my age,” explained Laura, who juggles part-time work as a carer with looking after five-year-old sons Dylan and Craig – nicknamed “the demolition twins”.

“But when I first went to get tested at my doctors I was refused. When I went back and stood up for myself the nurse agreed to do it, but she warned the test might just be discarded by the lab because of my age.”

Medics at the Gateshead practice told Laura the tests were “pointless” for someone her age, and they had been inundated with thousands of worried young women since the shock news of Jade Goody’s death.

But Laura’s test came back showing abnormal cells. And a second test six months later showed the cells had developed – indicating the very first stages of cancer. A biopsy confirmed that Laura had what are known as pre-cancerous cells.

Today, with her mum by her side, brave Laura will go under the knife at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital to have the cells cut away and prevent her from developing full-blown cancer.

“I am scared about it,” Laura admitted. “I know it will be very painful and the doctors have warned me it will take days to recover.

“They will also have to run more tests afterwards to see if the operation has worked, so it might not be over after all of this. But I am also relieved they caught it when they did.

“What gets me is that I am still under 25. Who knows what stage it could have been at if I had waited.

“The cells had developed so fast in just six months. I dread to think what could have happened. I might not have been here for my two little boys. I didn’t want to be the next Jade Goody.” Now Laura is fighting for other young women to get the potentially life-saving tests. She has written to Gordon Brown and Health Secretary Andy Burnham to appeal for change.

And she has been supported in her campaign by the family of Claire Walker Everett, from Washington, who launched a bid to drop the age to 20 after their daughter was cruelly taken by the disease aged just 23.

But despite the calls, the Government announced earlier this year that the age would stay 25.

Fergus Neilson, screening lead for the North East Strategic Health Authority, said testing women under the age of 25 could do more harm than good.

“Changes in the young cervix are normal. If they are considered abnormal this can result in unnecessary treatment and subsequent complications in pregnancy,” he said.

“Any abnormal changes can be easily picked up and treated from the age of 25.”

ALL WOMEN between the ages of 25 and 64 are eligible for a free cervical screening test every three to five years.

Around four million women are tested every year, most of whom will have been invited through their GP. Women should make sure their doctor has their up-to-date contact details so they can be invited regularly. Under-25s are not tested for cervical cancer in England. The NHS advice is to make sure you begin having regular smears as soon as you reach 25.

But if you are under 25 and are concerned, talk to your GP or go to a well woman clinic. And if you experience symptoms such as unexpected bleeding or bleeding after intercourse, you should make sure you see your GP.

Page 2: Laura’s letter to the PM

Laura’s letter to the PM

MY NAME is Laura. I am a single mother to twin boys Dylan and Craig Atkinson, aged five. I also work part time as a care worker.

I know you have heard this a thousand times before, but I am writing about the age limit on cervical smear testing.

On Thursday, I will be in the QE hospital undergoing a loop biopsy. I am dreading this day because I know how much pain and discomfort I am going to be in.

My GP says there is no guarantees that it will be over after all of this.

Now I have told you about my life- changing story, please can you take a minute to think of all the women who have already lost their lives to cervical cancer, those fighting it, and those who have yet to be tested.

Please drop the age limit to either 18 or 20.

I have been lucky because they may have caught mine in time.

But I know I will never forget what I have had to go through and just how lucky I actually am to have stood my ground and fought for the smear test in the first place. There are women out there less fortunate than me who won’t fight, and will wait until 25 – maybe, just maybe, too late for them.

I dread to think what situation I would have been in, waiting for my results in a year’s time when I am 25. I could not imagine what would happen if I wasn’t around for my little boys. Thank you for your time and reading my letter.